OT: Atlanta Hartsfield airport shut down

[RocketDawg]

Big power outage over that way. World's busiest airport that processes 275,000 passengers a day is shut down for a while. That'll be a huge impact all over the US, maybe even the world. Haven't heard the reason for the outage.

[Bothrops]

A major headache for Delta and to a lesser extent, Southwest.

[LC Dawg]

That?s gonna be a nightmare. I?m glad I?m not traveling today.

[Howboutdemdogs]

I am currently sitting on a plane here in ATL. Landed 2 hours ago from CDG Paris France, and suppose to be at GTR at 8:05 tonight. It is the damned site to see hundreds of planes that have landed sitting all over the runways and tarmacs. We are told that a contractor cut the main power source and even the lines for the back up generators around 1:00 EST All of the airport is dark. It will be a Horror Show going through customs and TSA. I am not getting out tonight GTR flight is now canceled. This sucks!!!!!!

[Political Hack]

I am currently sitting on a plane here in ATL. Landed 2 hours ago from CDG Paris France, and suppose to be at GTR at 8:05 tonight. It is the damned site to see hundreds of planes that have landed sitting all over the runways and tarmacs. We are told that a contractor cut the main power source and even the lines for the back up generators around 1:00 EST All of the airport is dark. It will be a Horror Show going through customs and TSA. I am not getting out tonight GTR flight is now canceled. This sucks!!!!!!

That sounds awful man. I’ve been in some bad jams at the airport before but never anything like that. It’s going to be a nightmare deplaning everyone alone.

[RocketDawg]

I am currently sitting on a plane here in ATL. Landed 2 hours ago from CDG Paris France, and suppose to be at GTR at 8:05 tonight. It is the damned site to see hundreds of planes that have landed sitting all over the runways and tarmacs. We are told that a contractor cut the main power source and even the lines for the back up generators around 1:00 EST All of the airport is dark. It will be a Horror Show going through customs and TSA. I am not getting out tonight GTR flight is now canceled. This sucks!!!!!!

To top it off, all the hotels will be filled too. If you ever are able to get off the plane ....

[parabrave]

Dam surprised no one has done it but i will start. I heard that General Esprinza is landing there and John MClain isn't too happy about it.

[LC Dawg]

Just saw that they are evacuating the airport. Where the hell are all those people going to go? I?m sure there are not enough hotel rooms and no rental cars left either if someone wanted to just drive it instead of waiting.
I?m sure people are stuck in many airports because of Atlanta. What a nightmare.

[RocketDawg]

All the flights in and out are canceled for the evening.

If it's true that a contractor cut the main lines, that company could be in for quite a fine.

Evacuating doesn't make a lot of sense either. As LC says ... what are they supposed to do? Assuming the 275,000 people a day go through there, there are probably 100K with nowhere to go. They can't stay inside, and it's fairly chilly outside, so what do they do? And probably several thousand work there. It's got to be mass chaos.

Gotta wonder if there's a possibility that the outage is terrorist related.

[Howboutdemdogs]

When 911 hit, I was in Houston, TX. I thought that was bad,,, but this is really awful. I still have to deplane, go through customs, pick up my luggage. As of now at 7:00 PM EST, I am still on the plane. Been sitting here over 3-1/2 hours. When I got a notification from Delta of flight cancellation, I booked a rental so I can I will start heading West. The bad thing is that I have been working out the country, and I fly out Tuesday for work again here in the States. I have been been on this leg and plane for 14 hours,,,,the other leg last night was 9 hours from Mumbai, India. Man, I am ready for a shower and 17 Southern Meal with cornbread and gravy!!!!!

[BeardoMSU]

I've got 2 friends on a flight there. They've been stuck on the runway for 4 hours already, and were just informed it will be at least another 6 hours.....****. That. Noise.

[LC Dawg]

If I?m stuck on a plane on the ground for more than an hour and they won?t serve me alcohol I?m faking a heart attack. Or creating a disturbance and getting arrested. I probably need to research which would be less expensive.

[RocketDawg]

When 911 hit, I was in Houston, TX. I thought that was bad,,, but this is really awful. I still have to deplane, go through customs, pick up my luggage. As of now at 7:00 PM EST, I am still on the plane. Been sitting here over 3-1/2 hours. When I got a notification from Delta of flight cancellation, I booked a rental so I can I will start heading West. The bad thing is that I have been working out the country, and I fly out Tuesday for work again here in the States. I have been been on this leg and plane for 14 hours,,,,the other leg last night was 9 hours from Mumbai, India. Man, I am ready for a shower and 17 Southern Meal with cornbread and gravy!!!!!

Don't know about the shower, but since you'll be driving through west Georgia and central Alabama, there's plenty of opportunity for cornbread and gravy on the way back. Problem is ... with the power outage, how do you check out a car?

[Lord McBuckethead]

Why do they not just let them off the damn plane. No idea why they must stay on the plane.

[BeardoMSU]

If I?m stuck on a plane on the ground for more than an hour and they won?t serve me alcohol I?m faking a heart attack. Or creating a disturbance and getting arrested. I probably need to research which would be less expensive.

Lol.

I asked if the bar was made available at no charge....the answer was "no".....that's cold blooded.

[BeardoMSU]

Why do they not just let them off the damn plane. No idea why they must stay on the plane.

The terminal requires power to operate the ramps and stuff. I guess they could just let them off on the runway, but I'd wager there are some regulations preventing that, lol.

[RocketDawg]

Why do they not just let them off the damn plane. No idea why they must stay on the plane.

Security? No electricity so the jet bridges to get into the terminal probably don't work. And you have to be supervised to deplane on the tarmac. Plus, there are only so many gates. Probably lots of planes far from the terminals.

I sat on two planes in Dallas one time for over 6 hours each trying to get to Seattle. "Equipment problems" both times. Got off the first plane after 6 hours to get on another flight, got on the next one and another 6 hours on the taxiway. I have no idea why they didn't bring us back in to the terminal. No gate space I suppose. Left Huntsville at 5:30 a.m., got to Seattle after midnight. 22 hours considering time zone changes.

[Political Hack]

Local NBC news in ATL reporting that GA Power says power will be restored by midnight.

[Commercecomet24]

I am currently sitting on a plane here in ATL. Landed 2 hours ago from CDG Paris France, and suppose to be at GTR at 8:05 tonight. It is the damned site to see hundreds of planes that have landed sitting all over the runways and tarmacs. We are told that a contractor cut the main power source and even the lines for the back up generators around 1:00 EST All of the airport is dark. It will be a Horror Show going through customs and TSA. I am not getting out tonight GTR flight is now canceled. This sucks!!!!!!

Praying for ya man. I got stuck in Detroit airport one time coming back from japan. It sucked. Stay safe.

[5049]

https://twitter.com/ATLairport?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp% 7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Reminds me of the fire under I-85 that straight shut the city down for a few days.

[5049]

Why do they not just let them off the damn plane. No idea why they must stay on the plane.

I don't think you've really thought this one through. There would have to be a state of emergency declaration to do that.

[PassInterference]

I've got 2 friends on a flight there. They've been stuck on the runway for 4 hours already, and were just informed it will be at least another 6 hours.....****. That. Noise.

At some point you have to consider pulling the emergency exit to GTFO. Under no circumstances should they keep you in a plane on the ground for 10 hours. The airport is closed. Planes aren?t moving. Just let everybody out and walk them out.

[LC Dawg]

Local NBC news in ATL reporting that GA Power says power will be restored by midnight.
It seems really odd that the busiest airport in the world can be without power for 8+ hours and they say they ?think? a fire caused the problem.

[Saltydog]

I?ve had more bad experiences at Hartsfield than anywhere else! I avoid it if I can!

[Political Hack]

It seems really odd that the busiest airport in the world can be without power for 8+ hours and they say they ?think? a fire caused the problem.

Yeah. What happened to isolate back up generators? This might be another snowmaggedon type WTF, but time will tell. I’m sure the FAA and about 10 other agencies will be there soon asking questions.

[Howboutdemdogs]

Heading West now! After 5 hours on the tarmac, 30 min in customs, 1 hour waiting for information on luggage, and 1 hour wait to just get to the rental car center,,,,hitting I-20 W. In the international terminal, 1000’s wondering in a mass sea of humanity. It was a horror show! Power was on but no one knew nothing. Power was on, but there was no cell signal when you got inside. The only thing I know is that my luggage is still on the plane and I’m mobile towards home. Just do this again Tuesday.

[Commercecomet24]

Someone or someone?s gonna be unemployed over this. This was a total screw up.